The Irish standard., 1887-03-05

IRISH ISL STAND l'l!: Ard: s!
of counteraeting, lily 4 different though
still more terrible excitement, the an
guish Of that which is already preying
upon his frame. 5aa2 - II aiss.9 f21l1a
As he passed the fort which mad been
pointed out to- him by his companion,
and which lay close to the path he. was
pursuing. he started, shivered with, an
emotion like fear, and then stamped his
foot against the earth and uttered furi-
GUS oath against his own; weakness. He
raised his hand over his eyes and at
tempted to hurry forward, with his face
turned another way, then. suddenly
stopping short ana meditating for a mo-
ment, he set his teeth hard, and said: q
1t was an ugly deed after all. The
old dark man that couldn't defend HIM
self, nor know what was coming upon
him. It was q towards blow that drew
his blood" st.,s,s " .,x,e:, j.f4 7ax
This was spoken something like the
manner of self condemnation which a
sportsman might be supposed to feel,
who had shot hare sleeping in it's form.
'.He was ind to me too when I want
ed kindness badly enough. But.
(Rercely) what hurt? He blotted all from
my mind when he took from me the only
friend I had" Then, with sudden, and
hurried self-recollection, .tEh? What am
Isdoing herep Well, to be sure, see this!
and the sun going down already, and all
I have to do before meet him. Think
O. that, why!'' And once more assuming
an appearance of steadiness and settled
energy, he rushed from the fort. .-..-,
He did not long, however, retain pos
session of this accidental firmness. AS
he. placed his foot on the little stile
which connected the foot-path with the
hill road, an old, palsied, white-headed
woman, her hair gathered up in a roll
under her decent white kerchief, q few
sods of turf and faggots in her check
apron, and string Of large horn beads
in her hand, met him at the other side.
Raising her aged head as if with ar eff
fort, and expanding her sunken eyes as
they fell upon his figure, she stopped
short and broke in upon the litany she
had been telling, to wish the stranger a
ssgood evenen, kindly Strangely moved
by the contrast in the designs and occu-
pations of both, the Coiner paused and,
gazing ixedly on the old woman, re-
turned her greeting with degree Of
tenderness in his voice that arrested her
attention in turn. Perceiving that her
route lay over the hedge, which was no
slight obstacle for; old and sapless
bones like hers to surmount, and acting
under the influence of one of those unac-
countable sensations to which his pres
ent state of agitation rendered him
liable. he stepped back for. the purpose
of suffering the devotee to pass first over
the stile. - ~ ........,.. .....,.- :.ss...
'.'Goen to pay your rounds at the
chapel, over, this evenen, I'll be bound.
you are, nova lanna-ma-chree?"
(child Of my. hearty she said, as she
placed her withered and bony fingers
(from which the rosary still depended)
on the wall II. ...... q.....,.
s'Going to the chapel, indeed, ava
neestha, . replied the Coiner, smiling, in
an access of fresh and singing remorse,
upon her. -.
"E' then, may all that you do there
be remembered to you at the day O.
Judgment, in the last . the world, and
through all eternity, for uvur, av you'll
only jest gi' me the hand till I'll git over
this place it's SO cross, entirely, my old
bones will be broke in my body Within
Without paying any attention to, in
deed, almost without hearing, certainly
without, considering. her kindly meant
benediction, the Coiner raised her in his
arms with as much ease as he would
have done child and placed her gently
on the soft path at the other side, after
which he continued his course along the
road. '..''''
.Millia buehiuus, thinl'' exclaimed the
pious old creature, s'and the Lord keep
his eye upon you this blessed night, and
hear the prayers Of his holy st. John,
upon his own eve, that you may ever an
always. continue in grace. and as we'll in
,clined as you are this moment, for it is
a good sign o you to help the poor old
widow and to be goen to the chapel or
Shawn, while many another boy
oulder than yourself is at the goal play
en-, or in the publican's. this way
So much for appearances!
Tho OFT IF nontlaness which ha had